June 3, 2014

— by Skyler Logsdon

I didn't come from a family that ever really considered college. My father worked construction, my mom was an assistant at a dental office and college was never really pressed on me growing up.

But my parents always made sure we worked very hard at anything we did.

I think my entrepreneurial spirit can be traced back for generations in my family history. My father worked red eye night shifts and always came home with greasy hands. He was a DIY guy. He changed his own oil, mowed the lawn, fixed our roof, and even as a kid I could tell that he was always smart with his hard-earned money. His grandfather owned his own small business called Logsdon's Mobile Radiator service. On the other side of my family, my grandparents were also small business owners. They ran an Italian deli called Mario's Deli. One of my uncles owns a compressor company, and one of my aunts owns a paint store. I always saw how hard they worked. And when you’re a kid, you don’t really think twice. But now, as I’m about to leave Drexel and go make my own mark, I think about it a lot.

The entrepreneurial vision and relentless work ethic is in my blood. But my family worked physically hard. I want to work mentally hard. I’m not saying one is better than the other. The respect I have for my family has no bounds. I just wanted something different. I wanted to show our family that we have great aim and great intelligence and instincts, and it could go far in the business world, too. I remember my grandmother worked at the local U.S. Post Office for 35 years, and her uniform had a tie on it, and I used to always wear it around her house, because I was fascinated with the “white collar” look. I wanted to be in a suit and tie since a very young age. It felt right. And if you’ve seen me around campus, you know I’m not joking.

When I applied to Drexel, and received a full scholarship from the University, LeBow, Boeing and KPMG, that was my big first success in the business world. Before that, I had success as a high school quarterback and in the classroom. I ran my own summer football camps for kids in my hometown, too. Looking back, I can see that they were little flickers of something.  But the scholarship changed my life. It took me to another level. It gave me connections and mentors with professionals at Fortune 500 companies, who took me under their wing. Having mentors who were successful in business — the kind of business I wanted to practice — was huge for me. That is why I believe in mentoring, and taking people under my wing, because I wouldn't be where I am right now if it wasn't for all the wings that took me in. And for all of my mentors (you know who you are), I cannot thank you enough.

Drexel was a springboard that launched me to new heights. I grew up here. And slowly, over these past few years, I branded myself as a professional. Drexel was exactly what I needed to turn my dreams into a reality. Drexel taught me to work harder, think smarter and work all the angles. And if any freshmen are reading this, I have some advice for you: the angles are everywhere. You just need to find them.

I would be lying to you if I told you I didn't expect to ever be in the position I am in. I knew things would work out for me. I knew I would do well, I just didn't know what my path was going to look like.

As graduation nears, I still feel like this. I know I will do well, I know I will do something of magnitude, but I just don't know what it's going to be yet. I'm always observing and searching for what the world needs and I will strike once my instincts tell me that this one is the one. Until I find my next project, I will keep learning, networking, reading and trusting my instincts. They haven’t failed me yet.

So, first I’ll thank my parents. And then my grandparents. My siblings. My teammates. My professors. My mentors. My friends.

And I’d like to thank you, too, Drexel. You’re my best angle.